Colombia vs Japan Match Preview and Prediction

COLOMBIA vs JAPAN

KICK OFF: 19th June 2018 | 13:00 CET

GROUP H ROUND 1 | MORDOVIA ARENA

Los Cafeteros to get off to an impressive victory over Samurai Blue

Colombia thrashed Japan 4-1 four years ago in the group phase, and a similar outcome is on the cards here. James Rodriguez (2014 World Cup top scorer), Juan Cuadrado, and Jackson Martinez were on target that day. Colombia’s prolific striker Radamel Falcao is now available after missing out through injury last time around. Tottenham’s defender Davinson Sanchez and Yerri Mina form a solid defensive duo, but it is the combination of James and Falcao that is expected to make the difference.

Japan come into this match from the back of a solid 4-2 win against Paraguay, and they’ll be hoping to build on that with another positive result. It was the first triumph recorded by Japans newly appointed manager Akira Nishino after his early two losses to Ghana and Switzerland. Samurai Blue have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven games.